EXERCISE MACHINE AND MAGNETIC RESISTANCE AND BRAKE CONTROL STRUCTURE THEREOF
A magnetic resistance and brake control structure includes a sleeve, a rotating member, a compound operating member, a movable shaft, and a cable. The rotating member is coaxially disposed in the sleeve in an axial direction, and is rotatable relative to the sleeve. The rotating member has an axial guide groove extending in the axial direction. The rotating member includes an exposed portion extending out of the sleeve. The compound operating member passes through the rotating member coaxially, and is movable relative to the rotating member in the axial direction. The movable shaft is connected to an operating lever, and is movable along the axial guide groove or drives the rotating member to rotate synchronously through the axial guide groove. The cable has a first end that is directly or indirectly fixed to the exposed portion.
The present invention relates to an exercise machine and a magnetic resistance and brake control structure thereof. An operating lever is movable in a sleeve to extend out of an acting end to abut against a brake unit for braking, or the operating lever is pivoted to drive a positioning member to pivot by an angle to be positioned for controlling a magnetic resistance.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONNowadays, sports are becoming more and more popular, not limited to outdoor sports. In general, indoor exercise machines include treadmills, fitness machines, elliptical machines, etc. These exercise machines have a resistance unit to increase the exercise intensity and a brake unit to stop operating. Such two control devices will increase the production cost, and the production is also labor-consuming.
Taiwan Patent Publication No. 1669141 discloses a spinning bike with an integrated brake and resistance adjustment mechanism, comprising a frame, a transmission wheel, a flywheel, and a resistance brake device. The transmission wheel is arranged on the frame. The flywheel may be made of a metal material and is driven to rotate by the transmission wheel. The resistance brake device includes a magnet assembly, a resistance adjustment seat, a control member, a manual brake assembly, and a resistance control assembly. The resistance adjustment seat is connected to the frame. The magnet assembly is pivotally connected to the resistance adjustment seat. The control member is connected to the magnet assembly. The manual brake assembly is installed on the handlebar of the frame, and includes a brake handle and a brake control line. The resistance control assembly includes a motor, a control interface, and a resistance control winding.
The above-mentioned exercise machines or the spinning bike disclosed Taiwan Patent Publication No. 1669141 include a resistance unit and a brake unit that are controlled by two control devices, respectively. Because it includes two control devices, the production cost is increased, the production is more labor-consuming, and the use is less convenient.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe primary object of the present invention is to provide an exercise machine and a magnetic resistance and brake control structure thereof. An operating lever is movable in a sleeve to extend out of an acting end to abut against a brake unit for braking, or the operating lever is pivoted to drive a positioning member to pivot by an angle to be positioned for controlling a magnetic resistance.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a magnetic resistance and brake control structure is provided. The magnetic resistance and brake control structure comprises a sleeve, a rotating member, a compound operating member, a movable shaft, and a cable. The sleeve has an operating end and an acting end. A rotating member is coaxially disposed in the sleeve in an axial direction. The rotating member is rotatable relative to the sleeve. The rotating member has an axial guide groove extending in the axial direction. The rotating member includes an exposed portion extending out of the acting end. The compound operating member includes an operating portion and an operating lever. The operating portion is exposed at the operating end. The operating lever passes through the rotating member coaxially. The operating lever has a pressing end extending out of the exposed portion. The operating lever is movable relative to the rotating member in the axial direction. The movable shaft is connected to the operating lever. The movable shaft is movable along the axial guide groove or drives the rotating member to rotate synchronously through the axial guide groove. The cable has a first end that is directly or indirectly fixed to the exposed portion. When the operating portion is rotated, the movable shaft drives the rotating member to rotate synchronously, so that the exposed portion pulls the cable to be retracted or released around the axial direction. When the operating portion is pressed, the operating lever is moved relative to the exposed portion in the axial direction.
According to another aspect of the present invention, an exercise machine having a magnetic resistance and brake control structure is provided. The exercise machine further comprises a frame, a flywheel, a brake unit, a magnetic resistance unit, and the foregoing magnetic resistance and brake control structure. The flywheel is rotatably connected to the frame. The brake unit is pivotally connected to the frame. The brake unit is actuated by the pressing end to touch the flywheel for performing a brake or to move away from the flywheel for releasing the brake. The magnetic resistance unit is pivotally connected to the frame. The magnetic resistance unit is connected to a second end of the cable. The magnetic resistance unit is controlled by the cable to move toward the flywheel or to move away from the flywheel, so as to control a magnetic resistance of the flywheel.
Preferably, the rotating member further includes a body portion. One end of the body portion has a flange extending in a radial direction perpendicular to the axial direction. When the rotating member is disposed in the sleeve, the flange abuts against the operating end. Another end of the body portion is connected to the exposed portion. A stepped face is formed between the body portion and the exposed portion. The rotating member has an axial hole passing through the body portion and the exposed portion in the axial direction. The axial guide groove is disposed on the body portion. The operating lever passes through the axial hole.
Preferably, the movable shaft includes a shaft body and a protrusion. The shaft body has a through hole extending in the axial direction. The operating lever passes through the through hole, so that the shaft body is assembled in the axial hole, and the protrusion is slidable in the axial guide groove.
Preferably, the magnetic resistance and brake control structure further comprises a positioning member. The positioning member is located in the sleeve. The positioning member abuts against the stepped face. The positioning member has a perforation extending in the axial direction. The exposed portion passes through the perforation to be fixed to the positioning member.
Preferably, the magnetic resistance and brake control structure further comprises a cable reel. The cable reel has a cable groove formed on a periphery of the cable reel. The first end of the cable is connected to the cable reel, and the cable is received in the cable groove. The cable reel is fixed to the exposed portion and abuts against the acting end of the sleeve. The rotating member is restricted by the cable reel and the positioning member so that the rotating member cannot move in the axial direction.
Preferably, the magnetic resistance and brake control structure further comprises a limit disk fixed to the exposed portion. The limit disk includes a protruding block extending in the radial direction. When the rotating member is driven to rotate by the movable shaft, the cable reel and the limit disk are synchronously driven to rotate along a rotation path. The rotation path is provided with a limit member corresponding to the protruding block. The limit member is configured to abut against the protruding block for limiting a rotation angle of the cable reel.
Preferably, an outer circumference of the positioning member is formed with a plurality of positioning grooves. A stop unit is connected to the sleeve. The stop unit includes an insert and a blocking member. The insert has a blind hole extending in the radial direction. A first spring is provided in the blind hole. The blocking member is disposed at an open end of the blind hole. The blocking member is moved back and forth in the radial direction. The first spring abuts against the blocking member. The blocking member is pressed against any one of the positioning grooves, so that the positioning member and the rotating member are positioned synchronously.
Preferably, the blocking member has a spherical surface configured to abut against any one of the positioning grooves.
Preferably, the brake unit includes a brake seat, a friction block, and a second spring. The brake seat is pivotally connected to the frame. The friction block is fixed to the brake seat and faces the flywheel. One end of the second spring is connected to the frame, and another end of the second spring is connected to the brake seat to exert a return elastic force on the brake seat toward the pressing end.
Preferably, the magnetic resistance unit includes a magnetic resistance seat, at least one magnetic member, and a third spring. The magnetic resistance seat is pivotally connected to the frame via a first pivot point. The magnetic resistance seat includes a first seat end and a second seat end. The first seat end and the second seat end are located on different sides of the first pivot point, respectively. The magnetic member is fixed in the magnetic resistance seat. The magnetic resistance seat has an open slot. The magnetic member is disposed in the open slot. One end of the third spring is connected to the frame, and another end of the third spring is connected to the first seat end. The second end of the cable is connected to the second seat end. The cable controls the magnetic resistance seat to rotate about the first pivot point as an axis, so that the open slot is moved toward the flywheel or away from the flywheel.
According to the above technical features, the following effects can be achieved:
1. The operating lever is movable in the sleeve to extend out of the acting end, so that the pressing end of the operating lever is pressed against the brake seat, and the brake seat generates a braking force. The braking force enables the flywheel to brake quickly or slow down the speed quickly. By pivoting the operating lever to drive the positioning member to pivot by an angle and then be positioned, the magnetic resistance unit can be controlled to generate different magnetic resistances to the flywheel of the exercise machine.
2. In this invention, a rotating member is provided between the sleeve and the operating lever. The operating lever has a movable shaft. The rotating member has an axial guide groove. The movable shaft is connected to the axial guide groove. The length of the operating lever to extend out of the acting end is controlled by the axial guide groove, and the rotating member is rotatable relative to the sleeve through the movable shaft.
Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.
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The cable 5, the brake cable 934A and the magnetic resistance cable 5A of the foregoing embodiments are all inserted in a rigid pipe. The rigid pipe is fixed to the frame 91, 91A to ensure that the traction strokes of the cable 5, the brake cable 934A and the magnetic resistance cable 5A are maintained correctly.
Although particular embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the present invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.
Claims
1. A magnetic resistance and brake control structure, comprising:
- a sleeve, having an operating end and an acting end;
- a rotating member, coaxially disposed in the sleeve in an axial direction, the rotating member being rotatable relative to the sleeve, the rotating member having an axial guide groove extending in the axial direction, the rotating member including an exposed portion extending out of the acting end;
- a compound operating member, including an operating portion and an operating lever, the operating portion being exposed at the operating end, the operating lever passing through the rotating member coaxially, the operating lever having a pressing end extending out of the exposed portion, the operating lever being movable relative to the rotating member in the axial direction;
- a movable shaft, connected to the operating lever, the movable shaft being movable along the axial guide groove or driving the rotating member to rotate synchronously through the axial guide groove;
- a cable, a first end of the cable being directly or indirectly fixed to the exposed portion;
- wherein when the operating portion is rotated, the movable shaft drives the rotating member to rotate synchronously, so that the exposed portion pulls the cable to be retracted or released around the axial direction; when the operating portion is pressed, the operating lever is moved relative to the exposed portion in the axial direction.
2. The magnetic resistance and brake control structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rotating member further includes a body portion, one end of the body portion has a flange extending in a radial direction perpendicular to the axial direction, when the rotating member is disposed in the sleeve, the flange abuts against the operating end, another end of the body portion is connected to the exposed portion, a stepped face is formed between the body portion and the exposed portion, the rotating member has an axial hole passing through the body portion and the exposed portion in the axial direction, the axial guide groove is disposed on the body portion, and the operating lever passes through the axial hole.
3. The magnetic resistance and brake control structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein the movable shaft includes a shaft body and a protrusion, the shaft body has a through hole extending in the axial direction, the operating lever passes through the through hole, so that the shaft body is assembled in the axial hole, and the protrusion is slidable in the axial guide groove.
4. The magnetic resistance and brake control structure as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a positioning member, the positioning member being located in the sleeve, the positioning member abutting against the stepped face, the positioning member having a perforation extending in the axial direction, the exposed portion passing through the perforation to be fixed to the positioning member.
5. The magnetic resistance and brake control structure as claimed in claim 4, further comprising a cable reel, the cable reel having a cable groove formed on a periphery of the cable reel, the first end of the cable being connected to the cable reel, the cable being received in the cable groove, the cable reel being fixed to the exposed portion and abutting against the acting end of the sleeve, the rotating member being restricted by the cable reel and the positioning member so that the rotating member cannot move in the axial direction.
6. The magnetic resistance and brake control structure as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a limit disk fixed to the exposed portion, the limit disk including a protruding block extending in the radial direction, wherein when the rotating member is driven to rotate by the movable shaft, the cable reel and the limit disk are synchronously driven to rotate along a rotation path, the rotation path is provided with a limit member corresponding to the protruding block, and the limit member is configured to abut against the protruding block for limiting a rotation angle of the cable reel.
7. The magnetic resistance and brake control structure as claimed in claim 4, wherein an outer circumference of the positioning member is formed with a plurality of positioning grooves, a stop unit is connected to the sleeve, the stop unit includes an insert and a blocking member, the insert has a blind hole extending in the radial direction, a first spring is provided in the blind hole, the blocking member is disposed at an open end of the blind hole, the blocking member is moved back and forth in the radial direction, the first spring abuts against the blocking member, the blocking member is pressed against any one of the positioning grooves, so that the positioning member and the rotating member are positioned synchronously.
8. The magnetic resistance and brake control structure as claimed in claim 7, wherein the blocking member has a spherical surface configured to abut against any one of the positioning grooves.
9. An exercise machine comprising the magnetic resistance and brake control structure as claimed in claim 1, the exercise machine further comprising:
- a frame;
- a flywheel, rotatably connected to the frame;
- a brake unit, pivotally connected to the frame, the brake unit being actuated by the pressing end to touch the flywheel for performing a brake or to move away from the flywheel for releasing the brake;
- a magnetic resistance unit, pivotally connected to the frame, the magnetic resistance unit being connected to a second end of the cable, the magnetic resistance unit being controlled by the cable to move toward the flywheel or to move away from the flywheel, so as to control a magnetic resistance of the flywheel.
10. The exercise machine as claimed in claim 9, wherein the rotating member further includes a body portion, one end of the body portion has a flange extending in a radial direction perpendicular to the axial direction, when the rotating member is disposed in the sleeve, the flange abuts against the operating end, another end of the body portion is connected to the exposed portion, a stepped face is formed between the body portion and the exposed portion, the rotating member has an axial hole passing through the body portion and the exposed portion in the axial direction, the axial guide groove is disposed on the body portion, and the operating lever passes through the axial hole.
11. The exercise machine as claimed in claim 10, wherein the movable shaft includes a shaft body and a protrusion, the shaft body has a through hole extending in the axial direction, the operating lever passes through the through hole, so that the shaft body is assembled in the axial hole, and the protrusion is slidable in the axial guide groove.
12. The exercise machine as claimed in claim 11, further comprising a positioning member, the positioning member being located in the sleeve, the positioning member abutting against the stepped face, the positioning member having a perforation extending in the axial direction, the exposed portion passing through the perforation to be fixed to the positioning member.
13. The exercise machine as claimed in claim 12, wherein the magnetic resistance and brake control structure further comprises a cable reel, the cable reel has a cable groove formed on a periphery of the cable reel, the first end of the cable is connected to the cable reel, the cable is received in the cable groove, the cable reel is fixed to the exposed portion and abuts against the acting end of the sleeve, the rotating member is restricted by the cable reel and the positioning member so that the rotating member cannot move in the axial direction.
14. The exercise machine as claimed in claim 13, further comprising a limit disk fixed to the exposed portion, the limit disk including a protruding block extending in the radial direction, wherein when the rotating member is driven to rotate by the movable shaft, the cable reel and the limit disk are synchronously driven to rotate along a rotation path, the rotation path is provided with a limit member corresponding to the protruding block, and the limit member is configured to abut against the protruding block for limiting a rotation angle of the cable reel.
15. The exercise machine as claimed in claim 12, wherein an outer circumference of the positioning member is formed with a plurality of positioning grooves, a stop unit is connected to the sleeve, the stop unit includes an insert and a blocking member, the insert has a blind hole extending in the radial direction, a first spring is provided in the blind hole, the blocking member is disposed at an open end of the blind hole, the blocking member is moved back and forth in the radial direction, the first spring abuts against the blocking member, the blocking member is pressed against any one of the positioning grooves, so that the positioning member and the rotating member are positioned synchronously.
16. The exercise machine as claimed in claim 15, wherein the blocking member has a spherical surface configured to abut against any one of the positioning grooves.
17. The exercise machine as claimed in claim 9, wherein the brake unit includes a brake seat, a friction block and a second spring, the brake seat is pivotally connected to the frame, the friction block is fixed to the brake seat and faces the flywheel, one end of the second spring is connected to the frame, and another end of the second spring is connected to the brake seat to exert a return elastic force on the brake seat toward the pressing end.
18. The exercise machine as claimed in claim 9, wherein the magnetic resistance unit includes a magnetic resistance seat, at least one magnetic member and a third spring, the magnetic resistance seat is pivotally connected to the frame via a first pivot point, the magnetic resistance seat includes a first seat end and a second seat end, the first seat end and the second seat end are located on different sides of the first pivot point respectively, the magnetic member is fixed in the magnetic resistance seat, the magnetic resistance seat has an open slot, the magnetic member is disposed in the open slot, one end of the third spring is connected to the frame, another end of the third spring is connected to the first seat end, the second end of the cable is connected to the second seat end, and the cable controls the magnetic resistance seat to rotate about the first pivot point as an axis, so that the open slot is moved toward the flywheel or away from the flywheel.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 26, 2021
Publication Date: Nov 11, 2021
Patent Grant number: 11524198
Inventor: CHIH-YUNG HSU (TAINAN CITY)
Application Number: 17/240,227